Rio de Janeiro · HIKING & TREKKING
Rio is a city wedged between granite domes, and almost all of them have a route up. These 15 range from the easy ledge at Pedra do Telégrafo to the graded scramble on Pedra da Gávea, with honest notes on length, difficulty and which need a guide.
Guided Tijuca rainforest hike from Rio hotels with waterfalls and caves, small group transfers, and viewpoint stops in 5 hours.
“This was awesome. Hiking through a rain forest in the heart of a major city. Requires ability to walk on rough terrain. Bring hats and rain protection.”
Hike Tijuca’s best viewpoints, waterfalls, and caves in a small group, with easy logistics and wildlife-spotting chances.
“Just finished the tour this morning. It was truly small group and well organized: we were the first one on the top of mountain and have that view for ourselves until we were leaving. We saw two types of monkeys, butterflies, tucan, etc, along the way. What makes the trip memorable is the guide Eduardo, he is entertaining, informative, patient, great driver and full of energy. Highly recommended!”
Small-group hike in Rio’s Tijuca Forest with caves, waterfalls, and 19th-century coffee-plantation ruins, about 6 hours, from $69.
“Pietro was an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable. His passion for the forest showed and he engaged us all. We didn't see many animals but the flora and fauna made up for this. The group was small (5 people) and the pick up punctual. Would highly recommend this trip and could have spent a couple of days just exploring the forest. Trip is well worth it !”
Pedra da Gávea hike through Tijuca Forest with rope-climb help and a 360° summit view over Rio’s beaches, lagoons, and icons.
“Rodrigo is an amazing guide explains everything to perfection, very patient and speaks great English. He’s very knowledgeable about Rio and lots of other things. Pedra de Gávea was very challenging but with the help of Rodrigo we were able to do it. I recommend him 100%.”
Steep but short hike to Pedra do Telégrafo for Rio views, then unwind on Grumari or Prainha beaches, with A/C transport and great guides.
“Amazing tour! Gustavo our tour guide was amazing! Thank you”
Jeep trip through Rio’s 18 beaches and Pedra do Telégrafo sunset, with edited professional photos in a six-person group.
“This was an amazing tour with an even more amazing tour guide, Alvaro. Before the excursion, Alvaro messaged us with lunch/dinner suggestions, if the restaurants accepted credit card, what to bring to wear, a detailed itinerary and kept in touch several times before the tour. During the tour, he paid attention to all the little details- plenty of bathroom breaks, cover ups for our swim suits, hair tie for my hair, beach chairs, special treats and local snacks, go pro footage of the trip, walking poles, and lots of photo taking. Alvaro was one of the best tour guides I’ve ever had.”
Short, steep hike to Pedra do Telégrafo with guide-led photo spots and a famous hanging-rock illusion, plus sunrise, morning, or sunset options.
“Hands down, the best experience while in Rio! Caio was amazing! I did the sunrise tour and it was phenomenal. Caio is a phenomenal conversationalist and made the hike fun! Also, his photography skills are A1! Top tier! He gave great insight on the best poses. I turned 30 and this trip to Rio was a solo trip to celebrate, as well as my first in South America. This experience will always be the highlight. If you’re looking to do this, don’t even overthink it. Caio is the way to go!”
Tough hike in Rio’s Tijuca Forest up to Pedra da Gávea, with ropes, cliff scrambling, and summit views.
“Eduardo was an amazing guide. We were the only English speakers in our group and he made every effort to make sure we knew what was going on. Also, he is a fantastic part time photographer :-). The hike was very challenging. If you are shorter than 5'4ft, get ready for some big steps that you may need help navigating. Overall, an amazing day!”
Tijuca Forest half-day hike to Pedra Bonita and Gavea views, plus Vista Chinesa. Small group, guide, fees included.
“Tito was a fantastic guide, passionate about his city/country and was nible on a foggy day to ensure that we had an awsome experience. Thanks Tito!”
Guided Pedra da Gávea hike from Rio’s rainforest to 840 m, with climbing gear and small-group panoramas.
“This was one of the best hikes we have done. Such an amazing experience. Highly recommended. To see our full adventure, visit our YouTube channel. The link is provided below. Also follow us on instagram @steinventures Rio De Janeiro Brazil: Episode 4 https://youtu.be/drYLTMEZcBM”
Take on a hard 10.4 km hike in Rio’s Tijuca Forest, with coffee ruins, caves, waterfalls, and Taquara Hill views, small group.
“Our guide for this tour was Alex and our overall experience for the hike itself and of Alex was amazing. The hike: for nearly the entire duration of the ~5 hour hike, we didn’t see a single other person! A lot of the path felt very ‘untouched’ and the view points at the top were spectacular. The guide: Alex was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of interesting facts about the forest flaura & fauna as well as telling us a lot about the history of the country. He was very entertaining and we had a great time. Alex even gave us a lot of local Rio recommendations on…”
Hard full-day hike in Tijuca Forest to Taquara Hill, waterfalls and Vista Chinesa, with hotel pickup and expert small-group guiding.
“This was an amazing experience! Our guide Alex was very knowledgable and had a good sense of humour. He took us to hidden trails and places with stunning views which we wont forget anytime soon. I can only recommend going on this hike!”
Vidigal favela tour plus Two Brothers hike for $88, with panoramic Rio views, local transport, and expert guides in 5 hours.
“a good short hike, that also introduces you to the favelas. The view is stunning and worth the effort. Fred was a really great guide, he had a lot of great stories to tell :)”
Guided Dois Irmãos hike in Rio from Vidigal, with favela culture and sunrise views. Small groups, great value, 2 to 3 hours.
“Ricardo is the nicest tour guide we’ve had had. We had a lovely experience hiking with him and his positive energy is contagious and genuinely made our morning better! thank you for the best view of rio and good conversations!”
Early hike to Pedra do Telegrafo, then Prainha and Grumari beaches with small-group guides, comfy transfers, and park entry included.
“Our tour guide RAFAEL - was absolutely fantastic! He combined extensive knowledge with a passion for storytelling, making the entire experience both informative and engaging. His friendly and approachable nature made us feel comfortable asking questions, and their enthusiasm was contagious. Without a doubt, this tour was a highlight of our trip, thanks to our exceptional guide. Highly recommended! We made excelent friendships!!!”
Every kind of day this city offers, and the best of each.
